Fish Report July 4 Edition

CACHUMA: The catfish continue to dominate the action here with a lot of fish showing on cut baits in the backs of shallow coves. Some of the fish are topping six pounds and some limits or near-limits reported. The largemouth and smallmouth bass are showing in fair numbers on topwater and reaction baits early and late in the day, and the a few plastics and jigs the rest of the day. The trout bite has been slow but a few holdover fish showing for trollers fishing Needlefish or Countdown Rapalas behind five or six colors of lead core or deep-drifting nightcrawlers at the dam. Crappie perked a little this past week with the best bite on small jigs by the cistern island. Carp are excellent for bowfishermen, especially in the east end, Johnson and Cachuma bays in the mornings. Carp bowfishing permits are available at the entrance gate. Private boats must be inspected for quagga mussels and face a 10-day dry dock requirement before being allowed to launch. For quagga mussel and the boat launching information, log on at sbparks.org/DOCS/Cachuma.html. The marina is open with rental boats available. The boat launch remains open, but boats must get a quagga mussel inspection. Information: (805) 688-4040.

CASITAS: There has been a good topwater and reaction bait bite in the mornings for the bass. Frogs and buzzbaits have been best. The bass are mostly showing on the outside edges of the weed beds. Some fish on nightcrawlers, plastics, or live shad, but the bite is all early and late. Hector Alonzo, Santa Paula, had a 5-8 bass on a nightcrawlers. The bluegill and redear bites are pretty fair, but most of the fish are hand-sized for a little better but some bigger fish are showing in six to 12 feet of water. Austin Ketterling, Santa Clarita, had redear a pair of redear at 2-0 and 1-0 on nightcrawlers near the dock. No fishing pressure on other species, but there was a 15-pound catfish landed on mackerel. Private boats must be inspected for quagga mussels and face a 35-day dry dock requirement before being allowed to launch. Information: 805-649-2043 or casitasboatrentals.com

CASTAIC: Not much change here. Stripers remain pretty good with the best action on lug worms, sardines, and blood worms in 60 to 80 feet of water in Necktie Canyon, off C-Point, along the cliffs, and at the buoy lines. Most of the fish are one to two pounds, but fish to four pounds showing in many stringers. The largemouth bite has also been fair in 10 to 25 feet of water around much of the lake, mostly on swimbaits and jerkbaits. The main point, Firebreak, and Utopia have been the top spots. The catfish bite is fair to good, mostly on cut sardines or mackerel around Kong Island in deep water. Bluegill are good in six to 12 feet of water on small nightcrawlers, crickets, or wax worms. Most are 1/4-pounders. The water level continues to fall and boaters can no longer use the west ramp. The water will continue to fall and the boat capacity has been reduced from 500 to 300 boats per day. Other species slow. For information call (661) 775-6232 or CastaicLake.com.

PIRU: The largemouth bass bite has been good on plastics and reaction baits with most fish in 12 to 30 feet of water, but there is still some topwater action early and late in the day. The average fish is from one to two pounds. A few catfish reports. The bluegill action is pretty good if you can find a school of fish, but the fish are mostly hand-sized. Information: store and bait shop at (805) 521-1500, x207 (open Thursday through Monday), the gatehouse at x201, or at camplakepiru.com.

PYRAMID: Little change here. The striper bite remains fair to good with a lot of small fish from 10 to 12 inches and a few to three pounds. The best bait action has been on nightcrawlers, cut baits (sardines), lug worms, and bloodworms, and trollers are also getting a lot of fish. Good catfish action in the main channel by the gate house and in most of the deeper coves and bays. The best catfish bite has been on nightcrawlers, blood worms, lug worms, and cut baits with fish to eight pounds reported this past week. The largemouth bass bite is fair on plastics and nightcrawlers. Most are one to two pounds with a few bigger fish. No reports on other species. There is a health warning about eating fish from here. More information at this link: oehha.ca.gov/fish/so_cal/pyramidlake2013.html. Information: Emigrant Landing entrance booth at (661) 295-7155 or the web site at campone.com.

PUDDINGSTONE: Slow to fair bass action on plastics and topwater baits early and late in the day. Tough mid-day bite with the heat. The bluegill are showing in pretty good numbers with some fish pushing a half-pound. Redear and crappie still spotty. Park and lake fishing information: (909) 599-8411 or bonellipark.org.